African violet plant

ABSTRACT

An african violet known by the cultivar name North Carolina and having sturdy, upright flower stems, with 10-12 single red-purple flowers on each stem; non-dropping flowers, and vigorous and compact growth habit.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of AfricanViolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name North Carolina. North Carolina referredto during the breeding and selection process by the numbers 17/9 and69/77, is a product of a planned breeding program, and is principallycharacterized by its purple-red flowers which sit on strong, uprightstems, and eight to ten flower stems, with each flower stem carrying upto 12 flowers.

The new cultivar was originated from a cross made in a controlledbreeding program in Isselburg, Rhineland, Germany. The female, or seedparent is unpatented and identified as F III pink (color RHS 62-D). Themale, or pollen parent, also unpatented, is identified as 4001 red(color RHS 71-A).

North Carolina was discovered and selected as a flowering plant withinthe progeny of the stated cross by me in a controlled environment inIsselburg, Rhineland, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by leaf cuttings and bydivision of shoots, as performed by me at Isselburg, Rhineland, Germany,has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and values describe plantsgrown in Isselburg, Rhineland, Germany, under greenhouse conditionswhich closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of North Carolina, which in combinationdistinguish this African Violet as a new and distanct cultivar:

(1) Sturdy, upright flower stems.

(2) 10-12 SINGLE FLOWERS, RED-PURPLE IN FLOWER COLOR, ON EACH FLOWERSTEM.

(3) A fully blossomed plant has 8-10 flower stems.

(4) The flowers do not drop.

(5) Very compact growth habit, with excellent vigor.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows a typical specimen plant ofthe new cultivar. The colors appearing in the photograph are as true aspossible with color illustrations of this type.

In the following description, flower color values are referenced toHorticultural Color Chart (Wilson), and the color values of foliage,buds, sepas, male and female parents, and reproductive organs arereferenced to RHS Color Chart, 1966 edition. It is noted that it wasdifficult to obtain exact color values for the flowers, and the colorvalues indicated below are as accurate as possible.

Botanical classification: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat. cv NorthCarolina.

Parentage:

Male Parent.--4001 red (RHS 71-A).

female Parent.--F III pink (RHS 62-D).

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings and by division ofshoots.

Plant: From 6 cm. to 8 cm. tall when grown in pots, and approximately 23cm. in diameter when fully grown.

Leaves.--General form: oblong. Diameter: 45-50 mm. Texture: soft andvelvety. Veins: well pronounced. Color (upperside): 131-A. Color(underside): 187-A. Petiole: light reddish-brown.

Flowers.--Buds: ball-shaped, 6-7 mm. in diameter, color 72-B. Sepals:Spear-shaped, five in number. Color: 59A. Calyx: Attached to seed vesseland petals. Aspect: Funnel-shaped. Peduncle: 20-24 mm. long.

Individual flowers.--Size: 30-38 mm. in diameter. Color: Upperside: 732.Underside: Between 732/2 and 731/1. Borne: up to 12 flowers on eachstem. Shape: Five flower petals, 2 small and 3 large. The three largepetals are 20-22 mm. long and 14-15 mm. wide; the two small petals are16-18 mm. long and 12-13 mm. wide. Arrangement: on erect and uprightflower stems; each stem has up to 12 single flowers. Flowering time: 7-8weeks after potting, the first flowers and buds appear; the plant is infull bloom after 8-10 weeks.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: Two in number. Anthers: Four anthers, 7-Bin color. Arrangement: The anthers are underneath the capsule with twoshort stems joined to the receptacle. Filaments: 4-5 mm. long. Styles:7-8 mm. long, color 81-A. Pollen color: Color 7-C.

roots.--Root system well developed; white when young and active, turningbrownish when older.

Disease resistance.--Good, based on experience to date.

General observations.--North Carolina is a vigorously growing plant withvery compact habit. The flash of flowers out of the center of the plantis surrounded by dark green leaves, which are relatively small. Eachflower stem carries at least 12 single blossoms.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of african violet known by thecultivar name North Carolina and particularly characterized by thecombined characteristics of sturdy, upright flower stems, with 10-12single red-purple flowers on each stem; non-dropping flowers, andvigorous and compact growth habit.